Seven Nights of Sin (Penthouse Affair #2)

Chapter 21 Presley

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“You look stressed,” Michael says in lieu of a hello, kissing my cheek.

“Thanks?” I shake my head. “That for me?”

He nods at the coffee on the table and slides it closer to me while I take a seat across from him. “I hope you’re not stressing about the money again, sis, because—”

I shake my head. “No, nothing like that.” To be honest, I’m always worried about money, but for once, something else is occupying more of my brain space than the dwindling balance in my checking account. “Actually, I’m having some guy troubles.”

“Yeah?” Michael says, watching me curiously. I have no idea why, but I realize we’ve never discussed things like this before. “You know that happens to be my specialty, right?”

“Guys?” I ask, grinning at him.

He nods, satisfied with himself. “If it’s got a dick, I can help. Lay it on me.”

“Michael . . .” I chuckle, taking a sip of my coffee.

I haven’t seen him in a few weeks, but after arriving home from London late last night, his was the first number I called. I slide over the small magnet I got him from the hotel gift shop, and he lifts it in his palm, eyeing it curiously.

“What’s this?”

“A little souvenir. It made me think of you.” I shrug.

Michael’s lips twitch. “I love it, but you’re not going to get out of talking about this. Seriously. Tell me. What seems to be the problem?”

I take a deep breath and release it slowly, debating on where to start. Surely I can’t admit to my little brother the entire messy extent of what’s gone down between Dominic and me. Can I?

“It’s a little complicated,” I say, stalling for time and picking at the label on the paper cup.

“It always is.” He sighs.

“Guys suck sometimes.”

He nods. “That we do.” He slips the magnet into his bag and waits for me to continue.

“I just . . . I feel like everything has spiraled out of control with the guy I’ve been seeing. He’s older— only by a few years, but he has two kids.”

Michael’s eyes widen.

“I know. He’s a single dad. But that’s not the part that’s causing issues. His little girls are amazing, actually. But he . . .” I put my face in my hands. “I can’t believe I’m about to admit this to my little brother.”

“Out with it.”

I grin, somehow amused at seeing this grown-up side to him. “He wanted to keep things casual,” I say with an eyebrow wiggle, hoping Michael can read between the lines so I don’t have to admit the extent of my debauchery—and with my boss, no less.

“Ah. The good old fuck buddy who swears he doesn’t want something serious.”

“Yes!”

“Happens all the time,” he says sadly.

“So, what am I supposed to do? Call him on it? Demand he change?”

Michael frowns, shaking his head. “Nope. That would only backfire.”

I figured as much. And I don’t want to put more pressure on Dominic. His life is filled with it already. I want him to choose me because he wants me. Just like I want him.

“So, what am I supposed to do?” I ask.

Without missing a beat, Michael leans forward. “Take Jude my freshman year, for example.”

My eyes widen. “You slept with Jude? I didn’t even know he was gay.”

He shrugs, waving me off. “I don’t think Jude knows he’s gay. But yeah, even if he didn’t want to admit that to himself or even take one step out of that closet, he wanted me. And I gave him what he wanted. But once we slept together, that was it. He ghosted me and pretended it never happened.”

I make a face. “Jeez, Michael. I don’t know if I want to hear about your sex life in vivid detail.”

He purses his lips. “Don’t be such a baby. It’s not a big deal. And not everyone remains a virgin until they’re eighty-two, Miss Priss.”

I roll my eyes at him. “I was twenty-two, not eighty-two, you ass.”

“Still,” he says. “This is an area I know a lot more about than you do. So, do you want my advice or not?”

I sigh in resignation. My little brother is right. “Okay. Yeah, I do. Sorry for overreacting. I need the advice, because honestly, everything I’ve tried has failed.”

Michael smiles. “Tell me what you’ve tried.”

“Well . . . I’ve tried being the casual friend with benefits he says he wants. I’ve tried putting myself out there more, pushing him a bit, connecting with his little girls to show him we could be more too. Neither of those worked.”

He nods, his expression turning happy. “Duh. Of course it didn’t work.”

I narrow my gaze. “Then why do you look so happy?”

Grinning, he drums his fingers on the table. “Because I know exactly what you need to do.”

My brows push together. “Well, are you going to fill me in or what?”

Michael pats the back of my hand. “Oh, I’m gonna do more than fill you in. I’m going to make sure you have that man eating out of the palm of your hand.”

I laugh for the first time all day. It feels damn good.

Then I listen aptly as Michael describes the best strategy, nodding at his sheer genius.

I only hope he’s right, because I don’t know how much longer I can take this back-and-forth with Dominic.